1. Sabres coach Don Granato said the experience of playing on the road against a full NHL lineup - let alone that of a perennial playoff contender - was beneficial to conclude the preseason.
"On the positive side, lots you can take from that game as far as preparing and helping you prepare for the season ahead," he said. "… I thought tonight it was really obvious and evident to our guys that Pittsburgh] paid attention to the details and executed some of the details much, much better than we did and obviously the game gets away from you when you don't do that.
"So, good, negative experience without costing you a regular season game. I mean, there's a lot you can take from this that will help you prepare for the next one."
[Video: POSTGAME: Granato
2.The experience should be particularly beneficial for young players. Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka both played five of six preseason games, which Granato said was vital for the two forwards as they transition from strong AHL campaigns to playing in the NHL as rookies.
Peterka tied for the team lead with three shots in 14:36 against the Penguins.
"Very important for JJ and Quinner to play games," Granato said. "They played almost the whole year in the American Hockey League last year. It's a different level. This game here was a different level than earlier preseason games obviously because of their lineup. And that'll be the case through the early going.
"We're still a really young team. The negative is we will have growing pains, the positive is they will grow really fast. For all our young guys. We've seen that, we've witnessed that, we need to stay confident and comfortable in that. There's no reason not to."
3. Peterka said postgame that he felt more comfortable than he did at the outset of the preseason, specifically with his timing and puck battles.
"A hundred percent," he said. "Compared from the first preseason game I think I took a huge step. That's what I think I expected from myself before that, that it will take a little bit for me."
Video: POSTGAME: Peterka
4. Comrie played two preseason games and stopped 47 of 58 shots. Both of his starts were on the road behind relatively inexperienced lineups, conditions that Granato said the veteran goaltender embraced in preparation for the regular season.
"Typically, the visiting team doesn't have as strong a lineup," Granato said. "And he phrased it that way. He goes, 'This is what I want. I would rather have a tougher game than an easier game.' So, that shows you his mentality."
5.The Sabres finished the preseason 4-2-0. More importantly, the objective of training camp was continue on the trajectory of improvement that began last season.
"I'm excited," Rasmus Asplund said. "I think the whole city of Buffalo should be excited for what we have going on here in the locker room and as an organization. I think we really got something good going on here and I think everybody should be really excited because we got something good going on."
